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Loyola at a Glance

Bateman team again named among top 3 in U.S.

April 25, 2014

For the thirteenth time in 14 years, a group of public relations students from Loyola University New Orleans is one of only three teams nationwide to compete in the finals of the Public Relations Student Society of America 2014 Bateman Case Study Competition.

The Loyola Bateman team’s “Pay Easy in the Big Easy” campaign to introduce Popmoney, a person-to-person payment service, was chosen among more than 50 entries.

Loyola has won the Bateman Case Study Competition more than any other school in the country. Students on the team are seniors Shermicia Calice, Natalie Masone, Lindsey Rousselle, Ashley Ureta and Alden Woodhull. Loyola will face teams from California State University, Long Beach and University of Florida in the final competition Friday, May 9 in Atlanta, Ga. Loyola public relations professor Cathy Rogers, Ph.D., serves as the faculty adviser for the team.

“The success of our Bateman public relations team on a national stage is a testament to the quality of a Loyola mass communication degree,” said Sonya Duhé, Ph.D., director of the School of Mass Communication. “We have an elite program offering forward-thinking educational opportunities that go beyond the classroom.”

In the campaign, students introduced the Popmoney payment service to the New Orleans community as an easy way to send, receive or request money using a free smartphone app or online at popmoney.com. The person sending the money pays the transaction fee of 95 cents, which is cheaper than the average 2.75 percent transaction fee charged via Square or PayPal.

Part of the public relations campaign was the team’s NOLA Who You Pay challenge, which encouraged locals to pay other people using Popmoney. The campaign focused on raising awareness about how the personal payment service can be used to donate to nonprofits, to pay membership dues, to make purchases from local vendors or simply split a lunch tab or pay rent.

“Our 2014 Bateman team focused their creative strategy to capitalize on New Orleanians’ passion for all things local,” Rogers said. “Their commitment to Loyola’s legacy in this competition produced a campaign with measureable results that exceeded their objective.”

The team partnered with Crescent City Farmers Market vendors Cajun Growers and NOLA Pie Guy, the local chapter of the American Heart Association as well as Mardi Gras organizations Krewe de Lune and Krewe of Chewbacchus, to show how Popmoney can easily be used in each organization.

For media inquiries, please contact James Shields in the Office of Public Affairs at 504-861-5888.

Loyola at a Glance is written and distributed for the faculty, staff, students and friends of Loyola University New Orleans. It is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Greenville Hall, Box 909, 7214 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118. (504) 861-5888.

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